Change Making Women

This is the second of a two part launch episode in which we introduce you to the women behind Change Making Women.

TOPICS WE DISCUSS IN THIS EPISODE

• What Nia is and how it has cured Mary Ann’s problems with her back
• Working on disability and children and young people as Director of AbleChildAfrica
• Working on mental health and illness in Tanzania as Regional Representative for BasicNeeds
• Getting burnt out trying to make a difference
• The on-line community Mary Ann is working to establish for Change Making Women
• How making a difference can start where we live
• What food Mary Ann says she could eat for the rest of her life!

Some quotes from the show:

On finding Nia –
‘I’m in her class and I’m like, I wanna do this, this great, I love it, I love it!’

On teaching Nia:
‘I tell my students, here’s a movement, but follow your body’s way with it, so if that doesn’t feel go for you, adjust the movement….
Get used to how the music makes you wants to move and just feel your way with it’

‘It’s a really go balance with a lot of the other stuff I do which is more in your head’

‘For me personally, it was just like, I can’t do this anymore, there is mixed feeling on the inside’

‘Maybe I don’t actually have to take so much responsibility on myself and think that this is all my thing to solve’

‘What I am really wanting to do now is really support other people that are working in the NGO sector to really kind of basically look after themselves so that they do have the energy’

‘People always look from the outside and they load this ‘your so amazing’ thing on you but the reality of your work can still be hard work, a lot of travel, and a lot of not being with your family and personal struggle’

‘I am working on setting up a community for women who want make a difference which will offer them support so that they can kind of make sure that they are doing their work to make a difference in a way that’s healthy for them – It’s giving people a bit of space to step back from the daily grind of their work’

‘If you wanna make a change you don’t have to travel a thousand miles you can just start with your neighbour’

‘I do miss the food, I could eat Pilau and Chapatis for the rest of my life!’